Vikki Crandall
June 2024
Vikki
Crandall
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington
,
IL
United States
Vikki stayed with me throughout my whole labor and delivery and talked about everything and anything to keep my mind at ease: dogs, family, kids, stories she had, etc
I'm not even sure where to begin! Vikki is a very outgoing and personable nurse. As soon as she walked into my room, I knew I was going to connect with her. As a first-time mom and my first time being hospitalized, I didn't know what to expect. Going through the motions of being a patient, undergoing a C-section, and wondering if my husband would faint during my delivery were just a few of the worries I had that day.
Once we met Vikki, it was very easy to forget those worries and just treat it like any other day. Vikki stayed with me throughout my whole labor and delivery and talked about everything and anything to keep my mind at ease: dogs, family, kids, stories she had, etc. After delivery, I was not feeling the best and ended up getting a blood transfusion. At this point, Vikki was not my nurse anymore since I was on the 'mother-baby' unit. I wondered if I would see her again because, after all the complications I had, I felt it would be reassuring to see her again, as she truly lit up the room when she was with us. Sure enough, the following day after delivery, Vikki came into our room at the start of the shift.
With a big smile, she said, "I just had to come to check on you all; I heard about your rough night!" It was then that I felt so special because before that day, Vikki was a perfect stranger to my husband and I. Although we had only met her 24 hours prior, seeing her after the long night we had was like a breath of fresh air. It was comforting to see a familiar face. She stayed in our room for a while to talk and frequently checked in on us throughout the day. Two days after delivery, we finally got to go home. Of course, I again thought about Vikki and if we'd be able to say goodbye before we left as a family of 3. A few minutes before we left the hospital, Vikki stopped by our room to say her goodbyes. It was bittersweet for me, as I don't believe Vikki realized how truly special she is and the impact she has on not only her patients but their significant others. She was able to connect and gain the trust of my not-so-talkative and very worried husband, and this meant the world to me.
Having Vikki as my nurse the day I delivered my first child made the scariness of being a patient completely disappear. She is very dedicated to being not only a nurse but a social worker and friend all in one! She wears many hats and wears all of them very well! I hope to have her by my side (again) for the deliveries of our other kids in the near future.
Once we met Vikki, it was very easy to forget those worries and just treat it like any other day. Vikki stayed with me throughout my whole labor and delivery and talked about everything and anything to keep my mind at ease: dogs, family, kids, stories she had, etc. After delivery, I was not feeling the best and ended up getting a blood transfusion. At this point, Vikki was not my nurse anymore since I was on the 'mother-baby' unit. I wondered if I would see her again because, after all the complications I had, I felt it would be reassuring to see her again, as she truly lit up the room when she was with us. Sure enough, the following day after delivery, Vikki came into our room at the start of the shift.
With a big smile, she said, "I just had to come to check on you all; I heard about your rough night!" It was then that I felt so special because before that day, Vikki was a perfect stranger to my husband and I. Although we had only met her 24 hours prior, seeing her after the long night we had was like a breath of fresh air. It was comforting to see a familiar face. She stayed in our room for a while to talk and frequently checked in on us throughout the day. Two days after delivery, we finally got to go home. Of course, I again thought about Vikki and if we'd be able to say goodbye before we left as a family of 3. A few minutes before we left the hospital, Vikki stopped by our room to say her goodbyes. It was bittersweet for me, as I don't believe Vikki realized how truly special she is and the impact she has on not only her patients but their significant others. She was able to connect and gain the trust of my not-so-talkative and very worried husband, and this meant the world to me.
Having Vikki as my nurse the day I delivered my first child made the scariness of being a patient completely disappear. She is very dedicated to being not only a nurse but a social worker and friend all in one! She wears many hats and wears all of them very well! I hope to have her by my side (again) for the deliveries of our other kids in the near future.